LANSING – Macomb County lawmakers today voted to strengthen the "Hire Michigan First" job-creation plan to ensure that Michigan companies receiving economic incentives and state construction contracts hire Michigan workers. The plan will now be sent back to the Senate for consideration.
"The Senate needs to put the 'hire' back in the 'Hire Michigan First' package," said State Representative Fred Miller (D-Mount Clemens), chief architect of the plan first introduced nearly two years ago. "'Hire Michigan First' is about standing up for our hard-working residents who helped build the middle class. Taxpayer money should not be used to create jobs for people from other states and countries – it should be used to create Michigan jobs for Michigan residents."
The House plan passed today strengthens a previous plan passed by the Senate in May. Under the House plan, a company that receives a state construction contract will be required to hire 100 percent Michigan workers. In addition, the House plan closes a large loophole that allows companies receiving incentives to hire out-of-state workers.
"We must do everything in our power to support our workers, and that's what 'Hire Michigan First' does," said State Representative Sarah Roberts (D-St. Clair Shores), who sponsored a bill in the plan. "These incentives will not only help our businesses grow, but also will help rebuild our economy and create more jobs. It's only fair that Michigan workers receive the jobs that these incentives help create."
The House voted to accept some additions to the plan, such as extending the "Hire Michigan First" requirements to the Michigan film incentive tax credits and creating an exemption for projects in border counties to hire workers from bordering states.
"'Hire Michigan First' is a plan that will help with the massive economic change going on in Michigan," said State Representative Jon Switalski (D-Warren). "With the highest unemployment rate in the country, we need to be working every day to create jobs. This is a common-sense plan that will support Michigan's residents and businesses while protecting our middle class."
State Representative Jennifer Haase (D-Richmond) said: "In this economy we have to fight for every single job. As a legislator, that is my top priority – to create good-paying jobs for our workers. 'Hire Michigan First' is very important legislation because it will help ensure that Michigan workers are first in line for jobs created by their own tax dollars."